Monroe Man Convicted of Federal Drug and Firearms Charges

Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that James F. Ford, 58, of Monroe, was found guilty after a 3 day jury trial of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug involved premises, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Court proceedings revealed that in November 2011 a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s home in Monroe where agents found a large and sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation and two rifles. Trial evidence revealed that defendant and other family members conspired to grow hundreds of marijuana plants at the residence. The defendant, a convicted felon, also illegally possessed the two rifles found at the residence.

Ford faces life in prison and an $8,000,000 fine, or both, on each of the conspiracy and drug manufacturing charges; 20 years and a $500,000 fine, or both, on the drug premises charge, and 10 years and a $250,000 fine, or both, on the firearms charge. He also faces forfeiture of his residence. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the United States Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police.